Arnie Schreder Of “Ice Pilots NWT” Dies

Reality show star succumbs to cancer.

One of the chief pilots of the hit TV show "Ice Pilots NWT," which airs on the History Channel, has died after battling cancer – Arnie Schreder was 69.

Schreder appeared in three seasons of the program and worked for Yellowknife-based Buffalo Airways. He's one of many pilots profiled in the reality show, which follows bush pilots who fly around northern Canada in Second World War-vintage airplanes year-round. The show debuted in November 2009 and the fourth season is currently being filmed. It has won a number of awards, including two Geminis for Best Original Music for a Lifestyle/Practical Information or Reality Program or Series and Best Photography in an Information Program or Series. In all, more than 40 pilots have been featured on the show, however Schreder appeared in all of the first three seasons.

A funeral for Schreder, who has trained hundreds of pilots in his long-standing career, will be held on Thursday in Winfield, B.C. Then his family as well as his body will be flown to Yellowknife on a chartered Buffalo Airways plane on Friday. "We're going to do a final send-off again, like he had when he retired," said his daughter to CBC News. "So they're organizing the tanker trucks to be there for his last flight, then we'll have a service on Saturday, or a memorial at the Buffalo hangar at two o'clock."

“Before we started shooting the series, Arnie was the first to warmly welcome us," said series producer David Gullason to Global News. “He showed us around and invited me on a check-out ride for a new pilot on the C46. He was always warm, friendly and generous with everyone.”

"Ice Pilots NWT" airs on Wednesday nights at 8pm on the History Channel.